Benjamin barnard jenkins



(No Model.)

B. B. JENKINS. ABSORBBNT FOR FIRE KINDLERS.

No. 472,540. Patented Apr. 12, I892.

1'! News warn: 90., mom-mum, wnsmum'on, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN BARNARD JENKINS, OF BARBIE, CANADA.

ABSORBENT FOR FIRE-KINDLERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,540, dated April12, 1892.

Application filed May 11, 1891. Serial No. 392,365. (No specimens.) v

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BARNARD JENKINS, mechanic, of the town ofBarrie, in the county of Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Kindlers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to design a fire-kindler of such asubstance as will soak up' and retain a sufficient quantity of anigniting-fluid to light the fire, and yet when the fluid is lighted willbe indestructible during the process of combustion, thereby enabling thekindler to be used again and again; and it consists, essentially, ofacylindrical or other suitably-formed block, preferably made of asbestus, clay, borax, and glue in the proportions and in the mannerhereinafter described, and having secured in it a ring or hook, by whichit may be lifted and placed in position inthe stove or igniting-fluid.

The figure is a perspective view of my kindler with the lifter appliedthereto. 7

A is the kindler-block, which is preferably made up of the followingingredients, which, by weight, consist of: asbestus, fifty parts; clay,thirty-live parts; borax, ten parts, and glue five parts. These partsare mixed together, the glue being first dissolved, so as to form astiff paste. A quantity of this mixture sufficient to form one lighteris taken and roughly formed into shape, and a piece of wire is placed inthe center with the ring pro- '3' ectin g sufficiently to enable thekindler to be lifted. The whole is now pressed in a mold suitablyconstructed for the purpose, so as to completely'eject the surpluswater, and thereby form a solid mass. This is then left to dry orharden, or is preferably baked over a fire, and then my kindleriscomplete. The block A may be cylindrical or in any other suitableform, the peculiar capillary attractive property of the asbestus tendingto soak up the oil with great rapidity and then retain it. In fact, Ifind in practice that a few seconds only are required to soak up asufficient quantity to light a fire.

Although I preferably use the ingredients in the proportions specifiedabove, it will be understoodthat a less quantity of clay may be used oreither the borax or glue left out. I find from experience, however, thatthe ingredients and proportions specified above give the best result andproduce a fire-kindler most economical in its use of the ignitingfiuidand practically indestructible from abrasion or any other cause. Thepurpose of the glue is to make the asbestus and clay adhere to eachother "when the composition is subjected to pressure and afterward leftto dry and until it is heated sufiiciently to run the whole masstogether. The boraX serves as a flux and causes the clay and asbestus toadhere or run together when heat is applied, only sufficient being usedfor this purpose and not enough to glaze the surface of the kindler.

What I claim as my invention is A composition of matterfor afire-kindler, consisting of asbestus, clay, borax, and glue, insubstantially the proportions specified.

BENJAMIN BARNARD JENKINS.

